Re: Official: Tata Martino has just officially announced his resignation from Barcelona

by M99 Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:27 am

Barcelona have hit out at rumours that coach Gerardo Martino has decided the leave the club at the end of the season.

Fresh reports surfaced on Monday in the Spanish media which suggested the Argentine has taken the decision to step down from his role during the summer after just one year in charge.

The club have moved to condemn the speculation as false, however, with Manel Arroyo - vice-president in charge of the Blaugrana's media and communications - making it clear they had no intention to allow Martino to leave.

"We have no record of this," he said at a press conference following a meeting of the board of directors. "Tata has a contract with the club and is dedicated this week to what's important [Sunday's Clasico].

When asked if there is a condition in Martino's contract which would allow an exit this summer, he added: "I don't know if there's a deadline. There is a clause on his part and ours, but there is no intention to use it.

"The question over his future is a recurring one but it is not a topic for today. It's not something we have on the table. We can see he is focused on the sporting concerns of the first team, that is what he's concerned with."

by Onyx Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:55 pm

Tata Martino could head for a post in the Middle East if he leaves Barcelona at the end of the season, it has been claimed.

Marca cites a report by BeIn Sport’s Middle East correspondent Achraf Ben Ayad which says Martino was offered posts in the region last summer.

A number of Argentines have coached in that part of the world, including Diego Maradona and Gabriel Calderon, who was in charge of Bahrain before moving to Real Betis.

Rumours have circulated that Martino has told Barca he will leave Camp Nou at the end of the season despite having a year remaining on his contract. Barca have issued a public denial.

by Onyx Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:38 pm

A close friend of Tata Martino has said the Barcelona Coach won’t break his contract with La Blaugrana.

It has been speculated that Martino would walk away from Camp Nou at the end of the season but Willy Albergoli told Onda Cero that his friend would do no such thing.

“Knowing him I don’t think he’ll leave Barcelona,” Albergoli said.

“I don’t think he’ll leave after signing a contract.

“He’s going to respect the contract providing the conditions are met.”

It was suggested that Martino could take over the Argentina national team after the World Cup in place of current Coach Alejandro Sabella.

Albergoli believes Martino is one of the candidates for the role with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone the other.

“Tata has never said he’ll take the job although the issue is very clear,” Albergoli continued.

“When Sabella goes there are two candidates: Tata and Simeone.

“Tata though is a man of his word. I know he will respect his contract.”

by M99 Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:48 pm

Does this guy never learn from mistakes? Starting Cesc tonight, even RG was facepalming at that.

by MaraVilla Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:53 pm

Hopefully gets the sack tonight. Still dont understand his fascination with cesc.

Xavi for player-manager for the rest of the season.

by Forza Thu Apr 17, 2014 6:06 am

Why on earth does this guy keep playing cross after cross IN THE AIR to Lionel Messi??? Barca are so, so, so much more effective going through the CBs with tiki-taka and the one time they actually tried to do that resulted in Neymar with a shot at open goal.

by Art Morte Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:47 am

Forza wrote:Why on earth does this guy keep playing cross after cross IN THE AIR to Lionel Messi??? Barca are so, so, so much more effective going through the CBs with tiki-taka and the one time they actually tried to do that resulted in Neymar with a shot at open goal.

Probably he hasn't instructed them to cross, I mean, who would, but often when teams start pumping in crosses without notable heading ability in the box, it's just because they can't create better attacks and crossing is easy (and if you get lucky, even Messi can win a header).